Supreme Court reserves verdict on pleas for modification of earlier orders on stray dogs

Supreme Court reserves verdict on stray dog case, urging prompt processing of NGO applications for animal shelters and birth control facilities.

The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 29, 2026) reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking modification of earlier orders in the stray dogs case.

A bench of justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria reserved its decision after hearing amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwal, who summarised the steps taken by states like Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The Bench also heard the counsel appearing for NHAI regarding compliance of the November 7, 2025 direction where the authority was directed to remove stray animals from National Highways and fencing of roads.

The top court asked the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to process the applications of NGOs seeking permission to animal shelters or animal birth control facilities.

"Either you accept it or reject the applications but do it expeditiously," the bench told the counsel appearing for AWBI, who pointed out that after the November 7 order of the court, there was a surge in such applications from different organisations.

The top court asked the parties to file their written submissions as early as possible in the matter.